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'ASBESTOS SHOCK - “hundreds of tonnes of waste tipped down local coal mine”
8th July 2004
Supporters of Save Spodden Valley packed Rochdale Town Hall last night for the
first meeting of this term's Rochdale Township Committee.
Over 200 people crammed into the hall. It was standing room only with many
people standing unable to get in.
Councillor were lobbied outside the Town Hall by about 40 protesters, some
wearing white protective suits and dust masks
Fears have been raised by the risk of asbestos fibres being released if soil is
disturbed at the former Turner Brothers Asbestos works in Rochdale.
Addressing the council meeting, Jason Addy described how contractors working
for MMC developments Ltd / Rathbone Jersey Ltd, the site's new owner, started
work felling hundreds of trees at dawn a few Saturday's ago (15th May). At the
height of nesting season, dozens of tree contractors destroyed woodland the
size of 2 football fields.
Paul Rowen, leader of the Council, replied to the protestors by confirming that
the “whole site should be considered as contaminated” he referred to a public
document, the draft Unitary Development Plan (UDP) that confirms the toxic status
of the Rochdale site.
Councillor Rowen confirmed that the council had not been given any notice of
felling of trees. The council acted swiftly to enforce a Tree Preservation Order
and start Environmental and Health and Safety Investigations.
A former Turner Brother Asbestos Health and Safety manager shocked the meeting
by describing how over decades, the asbestos factory dumped hundreds of tonnes
of waste down a disused coalmine. This was done on the very land were hundreds
of trees were felled. Abdul Chowdry was shocked at the actions of the developer.
Now a national Health and Safety Commissioner, Mr Chowdry demanded public
participation in development decisions and that “every square inch of that site
should be investigated”.
At the meeting, Councillors were handed a “confidential” 1957 TBA document. In it,
the asbestos company describes 15,000lbs of asbestos dust being dumped every
week (300 tonnes+ p.a.). The document came from the USA as a result of court action
against the asbestos company in the 1990's.
11 year old Laura Livesey stood up and addressed the packed hall. She described
how she felt deceived by the assurances of Treelink Ltd, the forestry contractor,
who had told her “only small bushes were to be trimmed on the site”. Later that
day, ash and beech trees over 100 yrs old, were then felled outside Laura's
grandparents house.
Laura asked for the protection of wildlife habitats, to save the woodland and to keep
her community safe from asbestos.
A satellite photograph of the site was shown to the meeting. Councillors recognized
their Wards and saw that 6 schools were within 1 mile of the former asbestos factory
site.
After the meeting, Save Spodden Valley hailed the meeting as a success.
Jason Addy concluded,
“We are starting to find some shocking facts out about the former asbestos factory.
We hope that this contaminated land is given the respect it deserves. Please, no more
bulldozers, at dawn on a Saturday.”
Local television, BBC radio and press were at the Town Hall meeting. As of this
morning, a spokeman for MMC Developments / Rathbone Jersey declined to
make a comment.
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